Lions End Losing Streak With Easts Stalemate

Eastern Suburbs 3 (Fulton 51'; Shol 53'; Sansucie 58')

Lions FC 3 (Hore 35'; Schiavo 66'; Diaz 86')

HT 0-1

Played at: Heath Park

Reigning premiers Lions FC ended an uncharacteristic losing streak with an entertaining 3-3 draw away at Eastern Suburbs on Saturday evening. The match saw three Easts goals in a scintillating eight minute spell during the second half that put the Tigers 3-1 up before Lions battled back to share the points. Henry Hore opened the scoring shortly after the half hour when capitalising on a loose ball after Andy Thompson had played Michael Butters into the box and with the hosts failing to clear, Hore pounced, lashing the ball in from 12 yards out beyond Easts stopper Jack Richards.

Luke Borean making his debut for Lions FC after a move from PlayStation4 NPL side SWQ Thunder. Grant Brix and Luke Borean were both debuting for Lions and it was the former SWQ Thunder keeper who was called into action early when he was forced to parry Killian Flavin's effort over the bar on the quarter hour mark and he was made to respond again soon after when Jordan Farina's curling effort needed to be tipped around the post. Lions weren't without their chances in the opening period though. Nathan Shepherd firing just wide on the 20 minute mark and soon after, with a cross from Butters, directing a free header straight at Richards. The hosts were perhaps unfortunate not to open the scoring midway through the half when Lions were forced to make two goal line clearances, firstly from Alex Barnett's header and then another Farina effort with both looking goal bound. Hore's strike the only thing separating the two sides at the break. The game took a unexpected turn soon after the restart with three unanswered goals from the hosts in 8 exciting minutes which begun when Farina did superbly to keep Flavin's deep cross towards the back post in play, setting up Scott Fulton who drilled a low drive beyond Borean from near the penalty spot. Two minutes later and Lions afforded way too much space and time for Youeil Shol to control the ball on the edge of the box and dispatch a low shot that nestled into the far corner of Borean's goal with the keeper well beaten. Then just before the hour mark, Easts truck again. Shol and Farina linking up well in a neat move that set up Josh Sansucie who lashed the ball in from near the edge of the box for the goal of the game. But Lions showed some resolve to battle their way back into the game and midway through the half they did just that with Alex Schiavo pulling one back with plenty of time left on the clock. It did however take the visitors until just 5 minutes remaining to level the contest. Tynan Diaz picking up the ball on the edge of the box and firing a fierce shot in that despite Richards getting a hand to it, was unable to keep out. Both sides had opportunities to claim all three points. Shol almost capitalised on a Borean mistake after the Lions gloveman advanced to intercept a long ball to the edge of the box and in trying to head clear, instead played it to Shol who rounded a defender before firing across goal and slipping the ball inches wide of the upright. At the other end Jomanday should have scored when put into space but he opted for power instead of placement, firing high and wide when a more subtle guided ball would likely have yielded dividends. But both sides had to settle for a point in the end which in reality does neither many favours. Easts missing the chance to climb into second spot although having played two more games than the Mitchelton and Albany Creek, whilst Lions move up to fifth on the ladder courtesy of goal difference. The home side will need to continue with finding the back of the net with the visit of Mitchelton coming next weekend. They will however likely be without Buddy Rahmann who was forced off injured in the first half with a hamstring complaint. Lions will undoubtedly enter their next game at home to Grange Thistle confident of finally returning to winning ways.

Coaches Remarks: Steve Glockner - Eastern Suburbs: "I expected it to be a difficult game, having lost four in a row you'd imagine the odds are in their favour that it's going to change, so I didn't expect it to go for them as it has done of late and even at 3-1 up I didn't think it was safe, there was still about half an hour to go so we knew it wasn't over at that point."

Warren Moon - Lions FC: "Confidence is a great thing in football, last year we had it but this year we don't. As easily as we were controlling the game at 1-0, we found ourselves 3-1 down and not surprisingly given where we've been last few weeks. The big positive is the last 20 minutes and that we found a way to come back and we perhaps should have won it at the end with the chances we've had. I'll take that result and we can build on that. We're not looking too far ahead, we're just looking to find form and a win and that's it for now."

FB Media Player of the Match: Youeil Shol (Eastern Suburbs).

The strong and physical striker was a handful most the night, in particular for the second half where he was involved in much of the action.

FB Media Stats:

Possession: 44% - 56%

Shots: 11 - 15

Corners: 5 - 12

Free Kicks: 14 - 14

Offside: 3 - 2

Yellow Cards: 1 - 2

Red Cards: 0 - 0 Team Line-ups:

Eastern Suburbs: Richards (gk), Barnett, Farina, Flavin, Fulton (Yango 78'), Peut, Rahmann (Burgess 28'), Sansucie, Sewell, Shol (Amano 84', Son.

Subs: Sullivan (rgk), Amano, Burgess, Yango.